Former Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman has said he will be appealing a High Court judgement to remove him from office.
In a statement published on his website Rahman said “he continues to reject all claims of wrongdoing” and holds “that the integrity of the court system was marred by the bias, slurs and factual inaccuracies in the election judgment.”
The statement continued: “Tower Hamlets First councillors reject the election court’s claims that we are nothing more than a ‘one man band.’ We support Lutfur Rahman as a party because he has led in delivering record numbers of social and affordable homes, investing in our young people with maintenance allowances and university grants and standing up to Tory and Labour austerity..
“As such we will continue to serve residents. Whilst Lutfur Rahman appeals, Councillor Oli Rahman has stepped in as acting mayor and will be working to ensure that top quality Council services continue to be accessible to all residents.
“While other parties obsess over the politics of the past, securing decent jobs, fair housing and excellent support services for our borough will continue to remain our top priority.
“We will also be deciding this week on a candidate to endorse in the forthcoming mayoral election and election for Stepney Ward, and we will make that decision based on who we believe is best placed to deliver stronger communities and a fairer future in Tower Hamlets.”
Lutfur Rahman was forced to step down and leave the Town Hall after a judge ruled that his election last May was void because of a range of illegal interventions, including ghost voters and the use of “spiritual influence”. He is barred from office for five years as was his agent, Cllr Alibor Choudhury
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The election will be re-run on June 11.
